Locomotive power drive



Oct. 30, 1945. E. GRAY' LOCOMOTIVE POWER DRIVE Filed July 1, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3nventor Eda/Qm G'TQ ,aceesed fiy/ 65 Gray, fldyx. 4 6% (Ittomegs Oct. 30, 1945. E. GRAY LOGOMOTIVE POWERDRIVE Filed July 1, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2:

(Ittomegs Patented Oct. 30, 1945 LOCOMOTIVE POWER DRIVE Edward .Gray, deceased, late of Detroit, Mich, by

Agnes Gray, Park, Mich.

administratrix, Grosse Pointe Application July 1, 1942, Serial No. 449,234

6 Claims. (Cl. 105-131) The present invention relates "to locomotive drive trucks and more particularly to a drive truck having opposed poppet type engines.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a locomotive drive truck and drive therefor which will prevent the transmission of impulses to the train and which will develop greater horsepower than has heretofore been attained in locomotive drives.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locomotivedrive truck having opposed type poppet valve motors to drive the truck wheels by connecting the motors so that one opposed motor may drive two axles which is accomplished by arranging the motors so that the crank shaft of each opposed motor is directly above a drive axle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locomotive drive truck and drive therefor in which an opposed type motor is adapted to span and drive a pair of adjacent drive axles and in which a spring drive is employed for connecting the opposed motor crankshaft to the drive axles so that impulses to the drive axle will be dampened and not transmitted to the train.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locomotive drive truck employing an opposed cylinder type motor in which gearing is provided for connecting the independent crankshafts of the motor to drive in a unidirectional manner so that the drive wheels will rotate correspondingly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring drive between the crankshaft of each end of the opposed cylinder motor and the drive axl which will allow slight play therebetween to compensate for relative movement between the drive truck frame and the suspended drive axles supported thereby.

tor and the drive axles of the locomotive truck;

Fig. is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on lines 55 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing in detail the various Other objects and advantages of the invenaway to illustrate details of construction;

Fig. 2 .is a side elevational view of the locomotive drive truck illustrating the manner in which the opposed piston type motor is bridged between adjacent pairs of drive axles;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the directionof the arrows further showing details of construction relative to the opposed piston type motor;

drive gears connecting the crankshafts together and the gearing between the crankshafts and drive axles;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the spring drive between one of the opposed piston type motors and one of the drive axles, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows showing one of the structures of one of the intermeshinggears connecting the intermediate gear with the gear on the crank-shaft.

General arrangement The invention comprises, a locomotive drive truck having a series of drive axles and drive wheels connected thereto. The drive axles are adapted to be arranged in pairs so that any adjacent pair maybe connected and bridged by an opposed piston type motor having. poppet valves and suitable gearing therefor. Further, the invention includes a spring drive interposed between the independent crankshafts of the op posed piston type motors so that the vibration of the power impulses transmitted to the drive axles will be dampened and will not be communicated to the train of cars being pulled by the locomotive.

The invention alsocontemplates an arrangement of motor and crankshaft structures supported to drive independent drive axles and wheels in which slight play is provided for between the motor and drive axles so that the supporting springs of the drive truck will be allowed to resiliently support the truck and absorb rail vibration due to joints and switch banks.

In the'drawings wherein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and wherein like reference characters will be employed to designate like parts throughout the same, the reference character I 0 will generally be employed to represent a locomotive drive truck including spaced side frame members H and I 2 connected throughout their length by integral web portions l 3. The side frame bars are connected by transverse frame bars H which are tubular and are generally triangular in shape in cross section.

The locomotive drive truck I is adapted to be supported by wheels I 5 carried on transverse axles l5 suitably mounted in journal boxes |1 slidably arranged within the slide opening l8. interposed between the side frame members II and I2 above each of the axles I5 is a leaf spring l5 comprising a series of segments securely held together by a clevis or the like 25. A roller 2| is interposed between the clevis 25 and a bearing block 22 carried on the upper end or top wall of the journal box l1. The free ends of the leaf springs I! are provided with suspension straps 23 the lower ends of which are pivotally connected as at 24 to an equalizing lever 25 pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 25 rockably mounted in bearing bosses 21 in each of the side frame members II and I2. The lower end of the journal box slide is closed by means of a bar 28 secured in position at its free end by being bolted or otherwise secured as at 25 to the frame bars. As shown, in the drawings, the springs I5 and equalizing levers 23 are mounted between each pair of side frame members II and i2 so as to be compietely housed and to limit lateral motion between the frame l5 and the wheels l5.

The upper edges of the side frame members II and I2 are adapted to support a series of motor brackets 35 and it is intended to position a motor bracket 35 above each of the axles |5 for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully described. The motor brackets 35 are anchored in place by means of machine screws or the like as at 3| and each of the brackets comprises a base portion 32 having an upstanding web 33 reinforced by means of a transverse web 34 connecting the base 32. In the construction above described it will be noted that the motor supporting brackets 35 are in opposed relation and supported therebetween is a crank case generally designated as at 35. The crank case 35 is likewise arranged directly above the drive axle l5 and it is to be noted that one section of the crank case 35 is formed of a continuous casting 35 while the other section is divided to provide crank case sections 31. Formed integral with the sections 31 of the crank case and interposed therebetween is a gear casing or housing 38 having one end formed integral with the side walls 35 of the crank case sections 31 while the top and bottom walls are formed as a continuationbetween the crank case sections 31. The gear housings 38 are mounted in' opposed relation and are provided with flanges 45 at the ends thereof to facilitate the bolting together of the gear housing sections 38. The crankcase sections 35 and 31 are adapted to be supported between the webs 33 of the motor brackets 35 and bolts or the like as at 4| may extend through the brackets and be threaded in the end wall of the .crank case 35.

Formed in the opposed portions of the crank case sections 31 are openings 42 which are adapted to align with opposed cylinders 43 having flanges 44 at the opposite ends thereof for being bolted to the crank case sections 31. The cylinders 43 may be cast in sections of three or more cylinders each to provide expansible fluid chambers 45. Reciprocably mounted within each end of the 1 cylinder 43 is a piston 45 having the usual packing rings 41 and each piston is provided witha; connecting rod connecting the throw 48 or a crank shaft generally indicated as at 55. The ends of the crank shaft 55 are journaled in suitable beari gs 5! supported from the crank case sections 31 by means of suitable brackets 52. The intermediate portion of the crank shaft 55 is provided with a relatively straight shaft 53 the ends of which are supported in bearings 54 formed as a continuation of the inner walls 35 of the crank case sections 31. Additional bearing supports 55 are provided between the bearing supports 5| and 54 and said bearing supports 55 are formed as an integral part of the crank case by suitable webs or the like as at 55.

Intermediate the ends of each cylinde 43 is an inlet port 51 having communication with a manifold 58 through a valve port 53. The valve port 55 is adapted to be closed in timed relation to the movement of the pistons 45 by means of. a p ppet type valve 55 normally held seated by means of a coil spring 5| encircling the valve stem 52 thereof. Secured to each of the intake ports 51 is a cylindrical housing into which the valve stem 52 projects and said cylindrical housing 53 is connected toa circular housing 54 by means of a tubular boss 55. Reciprocably mounted in the tubular boss 55 is a valve plunger 51 one end of which is adapted to engage the poppet valve stem 52 while the opposite end is prasented in the path of a valve operating cam 58 moimted on the cam shaft 55. It is to be noted that the cylindrical cam shaft housing 54 extends transversely of the cylinders 43 in parallel relation to the manifolds 58 so that steam when admitted to the manifold through a pipe connection 15 will pass through the manifold toward each end and be distributed in timed relation between the op osed pistons 45 to cause the usual expansion thereof in the expansible fluid chamber 45.

Adlacent the ends of each cylinder 43 is a series of exhaust ports 1| housed by an annular casing section 12 to collect the exhaust gases or steam and convey it to a transversely extending exha st manifold 13 connecting each of the annular' passageways 14.

The cam shaft 55 projects through the gear housing 38 and has its ends supported in suitable bearings in the end plates 15. The cams 58 are arranged on the cam shaft in suitable spaced relation so as to be aligned with the valve stem plungers51.

Mounted between the ends of each of the crank shafts 55 is a pair of spaced gears 11 and said gears may be keyed or otherwise secured to the cam shaft on the straight shaft portion 53 thereof to rotate therewith. The gear wheels 11 are in mesh with spaced gear wheels 18 mounted on a hub 15 rotatably mounted on a suitable pivot pin supported in the side walls of th gear housing 38. Likewise, a pinion supporting pin 8| is mounted in suitable bearing bosses 82 adjacent the inner connected ends of the gear housing 38 so that a pair of spaced gears 53 mounted on a connecting hub 84 will interconnect and mesh with the gears 18 on each side thereof. It is to be noted that the gears 15 are mounted on opposite sides of the central gear 83 so that the crank shafts 35 will be interconnected and will di'ihve in unison and in timed relation one to the 0 er.

Formed on one of the crank shafts 88 between the gears 11 is a gear wheel 88 which is adapted to mesh with a similar wheel 5| rotatably mounted on a shaft 82 carried by and between the side walls of the gear casing 38. Likewise, a gear wheel 83 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 84 and is positioned so as to mesh with the gear wheel 8|. The cam shaft 58 is provided with a gear wheel 85 in mesh with the gear wheel 83 and said gear wheel 85 is mounted on them shaft by means of keys or the like to turn therewith and aaaaaaa is positioned intermediate the ends of said cam shaft. The gears 90 to inclusive provide suitable valve gearing for operating the cam shaft 03 in timed relation so that one set of pistons will be expanding while another set is being moved to a re-expansion position.

The gears I0 and 02 may -be supported on spindles as shown in Fig. and the ends of said spindles as shown in Fig. 7 are mounted in bearings 30 including inner and outer raceways 01 and 90 respectively, between which are positioned suitable roller bearings. The ends of the spindle 00 are preferably reduced as at 93 to accommodate the inner race member 01 and the ends of the interconnected gears I0 are cut away as-at I00 to receive the outer raceway 30. It is intended to provide a bearing structure as shown in Fig. .7 in each of the gears I0 and 83 on their respective shafts 30 and 8|. 1

Depending from the central portion of each of the crank cases 05 is a gear housing section IOI having a flange I02 on the lower portion thereof for receiving the upper section of a circular gear housing I03. Bolts or the like may be provided for coupling the flange I04 01' the circular gear housing section I03 to the depending crank shaft housing IOI. The circular gear housing I03 is provided with a lower section I05 having a flange I05 for being bolted to the flange I01 in the upper section I03 thereby completing a circular gear housing formed of divided sections I03 and I05 having side walls I08 and I 09 respectively. The divided gear housing is adapted to surround the axle I0 and the side walls I08 and I09 are arcuately cut away as at II 0 and II I respectively and are spaced from the axle to arrang a proper clearance therebetween. The arcuate cut away portion H0 is provided with a packing H2 and likewise the arcuate cutaway portion III is provided with a packing I13 adapted to engage the axle I0 and prevent the displacement of oil or other lubricating material.

Rotatably mounted in each of the depending crank shaft sections II is a spindle II4 the ends of which, as at H5, are suitably journaled and l are provided with roller bearing members II6 similar to the construction shown in Fig. 7. R0- tatably mounted on the spindle I I4 and supported by the roller bearing H0 is a cylindrical gear hub- II I having formed adjacent its ends gear sections II 0. The gear-sections II8 are adapted to mesh with the gears TI mounted on the straight portion 53 of the crank shaft 50 and said gear sections are drivingly connected to a pair of spaced ring gears H0 having hub portions I20 which extend outwardly toward the side walls I00, I03 of the upper and lower gear casing sections I03 and I05. Formed integrally with the upper circular gear housing section I03 and extending inwardly between side walls thereof is a pair of roller hearing supports I20 which are circular in shape so as to partially encircle the axle I6. A pair of similar bearing supports I 2| are suitably carried by the lower section of the gear housing I05 and are extended to provide a circular support in the outer raceway I22 of a roller bearing structure including roller bearings I23 spaced between the outer raceway I 22 and an inner raceway I24 secured to the hubs I20 of the ring gears H9. The ring gear sections H3 are provided with peripheral flanges having gear teeth I25 which are adapted to mesh with the gear wheel "0 on the spindle H4. It will thus be noted that rotation of the crank shaft 30 will cause rotation of the ring gear sections II3 within the circular gear housing including the sections I 03 and I 00. It is also to be noted that the inner circumference I20 of the ring gear hubs I20 is slightly larger than -to extend through the ring gear sections II 3 and I each of the blocks I21 to clamp the blocks therebetween and to anchor the same against movement. Each of the blocks I21 as shown in Fig. 6 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed bores I30 communicating with an enlarged central bore I3I and mounted in said bores I30 is a pair of oppositely disposed plungers I32 which are preferably formed hollow and are provided with flanges I33 operable in the enlarged central bore I3I A coiled spring I35 is mounted in the hollow plunger I32 so that the free ends thereof engage the end walls of said plungers to normally hold the same in opposed extended relation.

The structure above described is identical to the other plunger devices mounted circumferentially between the ring gear sections H9 and so it is only necessary to describe one of such devices.

The central portion of the axle I6 is provided with longitudinal keys I36 upon which is received and locked the hub I 31 of a drive spider having arms I38 extending between adjacent pairs of plungers I32. The extreme free ends of the arms I30 are provided with arcuately curved plunger engaging portions I40 and said plunger engaging portions I40 are enlarged to span the distance between the adjacent plungers. Normally, the arcuately curved engaging portions I40 will rest between the plungers so that the coiled spring I35 will not be contracted and the flanges I33 of th plungers will be at the ends of the centralmost bore I3I. Movement of the spindle arms I30 in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction will compress the springs I35 and allow suiiicient resiliency between the ring gear section I I9 and the axle II 6 thereby providing a spring which will absorb shocks and dampen the impulses of the motors so that the impulses will be prevented from being transmitted directly to the axle IS with the resultant unevenness in motion of the truck. If desired. the circumferentially arranged blocks or plunger housing I21 may be formed in divided sec- Operation In operation, steam is admitted to the manifold 58 by suitable connections through a throttle valve and locomotive boiler so that the steam will find its way in timed relation to the inlets 51 intermediate the ends .of the cylinders 43. The steam will then expand and cause the pistons 40 to move outwardly thereby rotating the independent crank shafts 50 to drive the gears H0 and ring gear sections I I9. Such drive will effect the rotation of the axle I6 through the resilient spring drive, including the spider arms I38 and the spring pressed plungers I32. The rotation of the axle It will thus propel the locomotive and it is to be noted that adjacent pairs of axles l8 are rotated in the same direction so that corresponding pairs of drive wheels l will propel the locomotive truck ID. The exhaust manifolds 13 may be connected to a condenser and thence to the boiler so that the steam condensation may be reused.

The invention disclosed and described in this application is intended to be used in the invention of my copending application Serial 447,977, filed June 22, 1942.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drive truck for locomotives, a truck frame, side rails on said truck frame, drive axles spaced on said truck frame and movably journaled in said side rails. drive wheels for the drive axles between said side rails, an opposed piston type motor mounted on the frame and supported at each end by the side rails, with its crankshafts above a pair of adjacent axles, means connecting the crankshafts to the intermediate portions of said axles, and resilient drive means interposed in said last-mentioned means for absorbing the shock of impulses applied to the axles by the motors, said last-named means being directly mounted on said axles intermediate the ends thereof to provide a resilient drive between the crankshaft and drive axles.

2. In a drive truck for locomotives, a truck frame having side rails, drive axles and wheels for the frame movably journaled in the side rails thereof, a motor supported by the side rails of tween the gearing and axles to permit rocking movement and side sway of said frame upon deflection of said wheels.

- the side frame members, opposed pistons reciprocably mounted in the cylinders, a crankshaft at each end of the motor adapted to be positioned above corresponding drive axles, gearing for drivingly connecting the central portion of said axles with the intermediate section of said crankshaft, and a resilient drive member directly mounted on said central portion of each axle operatively connecting the same with said gearing to permit rocking movement and side swayof said frame.

5. In combination with a locomotive drive truck having spaced apart side frame members and drive wheels supported by equidistantly spaced axles, a motor mounted on the frame comprising a motor casing having crankcases at each end thereof connected by a cylinder, said crankcases being supported at their ends on the side frame member, pistons mounted in said cylinder, 9.

crankshaft in each crankcase, connecting rods connecting said pistons with the crankshafts, said motor casing being mounted to span certain the frame, said motor having parallel crankshafts arranged to provide a'crankshaft disposed above each axle, gearing connecting the intermediate portion of each crankshaft to its respective axle, and resilient means interposed in the gearing and mounted directly on each axle for absorbing'impulse shocks transmitted to the axle and for permitting rocking movement andside sway of said motor and frame without causing damage to thegearing. v

3. In combination with a locomotive drive truck having side rails and drive wheels and axles therefor movably journaled in said side rails, a motor mounted above the drive axles and supported between the side rails, a power shaft at each end of the motor, said motor being arranged with power shafts each disposed above a drive axle of adjacent pairs, gearing connecting the power shafts in pairs to facilitate simultaneous rotation of said shafts, gearing connecting the central portions of the power shafts with adjacent axles, and a resilient drive connection mounted directly on each axle and interposed bespaced axles to position a crankshaft above each axle, gearing connecting the respective crankshafts and axles, and a spider arm member directly secured to the intermediate portion of each axle yieldingly and drivingly connecting said gearing thereto. to permit rocking movement and sidesway of said frame.

6. In combination with a locomotive drive truck having side frame members and drive wheels supported by equidistantly spaced axles movably mounted between said frame members, a motor mounted on the frame comprising a motor casing having crankcases at each end thereof supported by and between said side frame members, said crank-cases being connected by a cylinder, pistons mounted in said cylinder in opposed relation, a crankshaft in each crankcase, connecting rods connecting the respective pistons with said crankshaft, said motor casing being mounted to span certain adjacent spaced axles to position a crankshaft above each axle, gearing connecting the central portions of said crankshafts, a

, sorbing device interposed between said gearing and spider arm member to drivingly and yieldingly connect said crankshafts with their respective axles and absorb shocks and impulses of said motor while at the same time permitting rocking movement and side sway of said truck frame.

of Edward Gray, 

